Dumb-bell



(No Model.)

L. B. SOMERBY.

DUMB BELL.

Patented Sept. 29, 1891.

Fig. 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

LORENZO B. SOMERBY, OF NEVARK, NEV JERSEY.

DUMB-BELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,270, datedSeptember 29, 1891.

Application led June 11,1891. Serial No. 395,894. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LORENZO B. SOMEEBY, acitizen of the United States,residing at Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Gyrating Dumb-Bells, fully described andrepresented in the following specification and the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention may be termed a gyrating or eccentric dum b-bell; and itsobject is to furnish a construction in which the weights may be rotatedaround the handle by a swinging or jerking motion of the hand. To effectthis object, the handle is cranked at both ends and the Weights attachedto the ends of the cranks.

The annexed drawings show a side View of the dumb-bell in Figure lprovided with a sleeve upon the handle, while Eig. 2 shows a similarView with naked handle; and Eig. 3 shows an end View of the same.

a is the handle, h the cranks at the ends of the same, and c the Weightsaffixed to the bent ends of the cranks.

d is the sleeve, formed,preferably, of wood and held in place upon thehandle between xed collars c. Such a handle may be made of awrought-iron or brass rod bent to the desired form after the sleeve isapplied and having the balls c secured upon the bent ends of the cranks.

Fig. 2 shows a construction adapted to be formed entirely of cast-iron,with the handle, the cranks, and the balls all in one piece. The handleis grasped by the hand of the operator and gyrated in such a manner asto rotate the Weights around the handle, the swinging of the weightsbringing into play a great many muscles which are not at all exercisedby the ordinary solid dumb-bell.

Vith the form shown in Eig. l the handle would rotate Within thesleeve;but with the construction shown in Fig. 2 the weights would be rotatedabout the handle by permitting the latter to slip around in the hand,and the rotation of the weights may be arrested by gripping the handleat any time.

The dumb-bell may be held in anyposition and gyrated by a suit-ablemovement of the hand and arm, and the balls c may be made of anysuitable material and Weight to secure the desired exercise.

As the rotation of the weights exercises a great many muscles which arenot called in play by the lifting or twisting of the solid dumb-bell, itis obvious that a lighter weight is required for my gyrating bell tosecure the same exercise than is required with the ordinary solid bell.The gyrating bell is therefore especially adapted for classes incalisthenics and physical culture, Where grace and freedom of motion arecultivated. My gyrating dumb-bell also furnishes an agreeable changeafter exercising with the ordinary dumb-bell to iirst excite thecirculation.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim hereinisl. A dumb-bell having the weights affixed eccentrically to the handle,substantially as set forth.

2. A dumb-bell having the weights aiiixed eccentrically to the handle,and a sleeve applied to the handle, as and for the purpose set forth.

LORENZO B. SOMERBY.

In presence of- THos. S. CRANE, GEORGE BAUM.

